The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-02
CHANCEY M. DEPEW'S VIEWS
The Well-Known American Talks Enter
tainingly on Important Topics.
American and European Railways Compared
The German Iron-Clad Systems
The French and the German Soldiers.

PARIS France, Sept l6.-'One thing is quite
1ertain," said Mr.. Chauncev NJ. Depew to me
he other day, he sat in his parlor at the
Hotel d'Albe on the Champs Eiysees shat no
railway company in the United States could run
rains on the European plan and retain its char
er. The whole system over here seems to me
10 be a species of barbarism that smacks of the
middle ages, and will tell you why l think SO.
In the first place, one is safe in these small
compartments. You are left there alone with
yevera utter strangers, perhaps only two or three
ind often but one. And this may be a
thief, lunatic or even murder, with the
other as his confederates. Under such
conditions, then, you shut up in a
miserable box for hour more, while the
train. laundering on, browns any cries that You
eoud make in case of an attack. The signal
bell is out of reach, and if you are unarmed, or
doze for a moment you are quite at the mercy
of any villain who may be travelling with you.
Forum ately, the evil consequences of this system
are great in Europe as they certainly
would be in the United States, for here the
criminal classes seem to be less daring than
with us. But, even it is, robberies, murders
and assaults frequent on Continental
railways as to convince any fair-minded person
that men travel in Europe at the risk of their
lives, and women at the risk of their honor.
''Then compare the two systems regards
conveniences offered to the public. pass over
untouched what travellers in America have long
since learned to consider as railway necessities.
but which absolutely unknown over here. 1
refer to adequate arrangements for eating,
sleeping. lighting heating amusement, etc.
But must emphasize one glazing deficiency,
which is go utterly inexcusable that in the
United States it would simply cause riot. I
mean the fact that continental trains with
put even the most primitive toilet convenicnces.
The annoyance and suffering occasioned there
by is incalculable. Think OF the feeble women
and elderly men, of the invales and children.
who are forced to put up with such monstrous
neglect. To be sure the companies pretend to
furnish these accomm odations at the stations.
but the runs very long, the stops short
and the weather often inclement, many persons
unable to leave the train and take advantage
Of even these wretched accommodations.
Here is illustra ton of the abuses of this
system. l mention which has
under my own personal observation. An Amer
lean lady left her seat to enter one of these
cabinets. and she was actually locked in and
kept there until the train had moved off simply
because, having left her purse in the cars. she
was unable to pay the few sous which were
demanded.
Another serious discomfort on European
railways is caused by the incessant joting, due
very largely to the small size and faulty con-
struction of the cars. IL you happen to ride in
the forward carriage of one of their express
trains, you thrown and down and from
side to side with a violence which would only be
equaled in the United States of the
old corduroy roads over Western prairie. where
the rails had been laid simply on the ground
without grading
''Do object TO government ownership of the
roads, which is very common here in Europe2
OF course do, and most decidedly. / believe in
proper legislation, both to protect the public
against exrorron and to prevent unjust dis
Grimm atom but aside from such restrictive
action. and with proper railroad commissions as
tribunals for tho prompt and inexpensive DISPOSE
ton OF grievances and the enforcement of the
laws, l maintain that the governments should
have authority over the railroads of a coun-
try. One single argument dsposes of the Ques-
ton far the United States concerned
Suppose that our railroads were controlled from
Washington Is IL not perfectly plain that
with the existing civil-service laws, the party in
power, supported as it would be by the votes Of
nearly million railroad employees. could be
overthrown by nothing short of a revolution2
''But this is not the only objection. Under
our present railroad system the bitter struggle
between rival companies force each to raise it's
standard of excellence to the very hie hest point
Improvements are being constantly introduced,
new inventions are eagerly sought after. court
in various ways; in word, railroad directors
are forced to study to the uttermost the general
comfort, safety and welfare of the community
which they rely for patronage. These nu-
merous advantages accrue to the people the
result of competition; but government monopoly |
means death to competition. and therefore death
"a dozen ra way lines vie with each other for |
the traffic betwe New York and Chicago. bur |
a Frenchman leaving Paris has choice One |
company will take him south, but only one; an |
other ru. to the west or north, but neither has
q rival; and il is in every part OF France. |
The result is therefore. that while free COMPETE
ton has blessed the United States with the
model railway system of the world, France.
lin gering still in the darkness of monopoly, has
not yet even seen the vastness Of her own in
feriority.
"Had railway science attained its ultimate de-
velopment, the government might control our
lines successfully. But railway science is very
far from having said it's last word, and no gov
eminent would keep abreast with the progress
of discovery, is being done from month to
mouth by our great private companies. AS to
which are still to come. electric
motors, electric lighting, etc, a railroad man is |
essentially optimist, believing all things pos-
sible in the way of rapid transit. except aerial
ravi CATION.
"Another we!ghty argument agai INST the sys
tenn of State monopoly lies in the difficulties
by travellers in securing. under it.
salts faction redress for wrongs losses of
any kind Complaints become practically suits
against the government, and mans estate is
eaten up by lawyers. and his grandson laid away
in the grave before anything tangible results
rom appeal to Justice
81 will illustrate the autocratic character of
European government railway management by
two incidents which know to be authentic. A
party OF American students, travelling through
Germany. reached the station just as their train
was starting. An official called out to them not
20 attempt getting on; but. the cars were
moving slowly, they paid no attention to his
saution and stepped aboard. The result was
shat at the next stop they were met by a guard
Of soldiers and all marched off under arrest
cat first the young Americans treated the
whole affair huge joke. and inquired with
mock seriousness when the trial would come off
But they changed their tone being informed |
hat having deliberately violated an ordinance
If the German Empire, they had been already |
ried convicted and sentenced to thirty days' |
Imprisonment. In fact, before they realized the |
gravity of their situation. they were behind
ron bars in the city jail, and it REQUIRED the
pfiuence of the American legation at Berlin
ogether with the most humiliatiug apologies
IN their own parts, to effect their release.
IA friend of mine the hero of the other
Incident. which happened at the Frankfort
iepot. He about enter a compartment
where several seats were vacant, when he dis
inctly saw of the gentlemen inside slip a |
yod piece into the hand of the guard who inn
LIZ declarad that the trne |